Andrena algida

Justification:
The Icy Miner Bee (Andrena algida) is a solitary bee known from much of the northern United States and across Canada. Using all observations, the extent of occurrence is 13,559,012 km2. Although there are limited observations of the species since 2014, the recent observations come from widely dispersed portions of the range, suggesting the species may be extant throughout its range. The species has been described as a dietary specialist using pollen from plants in the genus Salix (Salicaceae), although it may use plants from other genera as well. It occurs in forests and taiga as well as agricultural and urban areas. Across the range of the species, impacts from urbanization, exposure to pesticides, and climate change have been observed, which may be acting on the species at local levels. Because the species is widespread, and occurs in many different environments, it is unlikely that it is threatened with extinction at this time. As such it is assessed as Least Concern.

Andrena algida is considered a dietary specialist, which has been confirmed by microscopic analysis of pollen loads (Wood and Roberts 2018), The species visits flowers from the genus Salix (Salicaceae) for pollen (Ostaff et al. 2015; Wood and Roberts 2018), but has also been described as a dietary generalist with a preference for Salix (Laberge and Ribble 1975). Using historical bee records with floral associates from northern New England, researchers constructed a plant-pollinator network from the historic (1891 - 1987) time period and found this species to have a critical role in maintaining the plant-pollinator network (Mathiasson and Rehan 2020). It is found in evergreen, deciduous, boreal, and mixed forests, woody wetlands, taiga, agricultural areas, and urban areas. This species likely nests underground like all other Andrena (Danforth et al. 2019), but nests from this species have not been described. Nest cells from other members of this genus are located at the ends of the lateral burrows, which are typically lined with a waxy Dufour’s gland secretion (J. H. Cane 1981) that serves to both isolate the provision from pathogens in the surrounding soil and to regulate water uptake from the soil atmosphere (James H. Cane and Love 2021). Females provision each cell with a ball of pollen moistened with nectar on which they lay a single egg (Michener 2007). Records of this species come from April through September (Chesshire et al. 2023). Adults are assumed to emerge annually (Danforth et al. 2019).

Specific threats to this species have not been identified. Certain aspects of this species' biology may make it more vulnerable to some threats. Andrena algida is a ground nesting species, and nests may be harmed by certain agricultural practices such as tilling, which can kill bees nesting close to the surface (Williams et al. 2010). This species is a dietary specialist, which has been linked to higher risk of extinction due to reduced host plant availability, especially under climate change scenarios (Roberts et al. 2011) and reduced effective population sizes (Packer et al. 2005). Additionally, Andrena have been reported to have low reproductive output because of the short adult life span, and a low rate of brood cell provisioning (reviewed in (Danforth et al. 2019). Other threats to bees generally include habitat loss or modification, climate change, pesticide use, exposure to pathogens from managed bee species, and competition with honey bees (Brown and Paxton 2009; Potts et al. 2010; Wojcik et al. 2018; Grab et al. 2019; Raven and Wagner 2021). This species has had its conservation status evaluated using NatureServe criteria at the U.S. state and Canadian province level in some areas where it occurs. It has been evaluated as Vulnerable in New York, and Critically Imperiled in Alaska and Vermont.

Conservation needs No known conservation actions are in place for this species. Observations of this species are known from United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife, and National Park Service land, but this does not confer any specific protections to the species. Further research is needed to determine the overall size of the population and to identify trends and existing threats. Specific conservation needs for this species have not been identified. Due to the importance of supporting wild bee populations for pollination services, general conservation practices are recommended including, restoring, creating, and preserving natural high-quality habitats to include suitable forage and nesting sites; limiting pesticide use on or near suitable habitat, particularly during the adult bee’s flight period; promoting farming and urban practices that increase pollinator-friendly plants in margin space; minimizing exposure of wild bees to diseases transferred from managed bees; and lastly, avoiding honey bee introduction to high-quality native bee habitat.

Surveys targeting this species are needed throughout its range to determine its persistence throughout its historic range. More information is needed about the population status, range limits, habitat, and ecology of this species.

(a. any taxonomic concerns about the validity of the species? b. any taxonomic revisions underway that would require a species reassessment.